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Briggs Farm Blues Festival returns with packed line-up

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The crowd reacts to a performer during the 2013 Briggs Farm Blues Festival.

When it comes to getting Briggs Farm ready for the yearly influx of blues musicians and fans, first it’s time to get the plow.

“We’re ready to cut the hay in the fields, and once we get the hay off, we start grooming up the grass — making it a little softer, and cleaner around the edges,” said organizer Richard Briggs. “We start putting buildings together, and getting the stage together. As we get closer, it keeps getting more and more busy.”

The 17th annual Briggs Farm Blues Fest kicks off next weekend at the Nescopeck farm. The concert field opens at 2 p.m. Friday, July 11, and 12:30 p.m. Saturday, July 12 with performances from Eric Gales, Eddie Turner, Samantha Fish and more.

As they reached the 17th year, Briggs said he thinks this will be a good year for the festival on the large family farm. They’ve attracted several new fans each year since they began, he added.

“We have people coming who were just born during our first year,” he said.

This time around, they have a good mix of new and returning acts, Briggs said.

“Returning because I like them, and because people ask for them,” he said. “I’m really excited about several.”

That includes Mike Farris, who will be playing on the main stage Saturday afternoon. Briggs said they saw him perform once, doing old time spiritual/gospel songs in addition to blues songs, and were blown away.

“He’s a well-known vocalist from Nashville, and he’s been on ‘Austin City Limits’ a lot,” he said. “I’m really happy to have him.”

The up-and-coming guitarist and singer Samantha Fish will take the main stage Friday evening, Briggs said.

“We’re lucky to get her at this point. She’s gonna be big,” Briggs said. “I think people are going to like her. She’s very talented. Great stage presence and a great guitar player. I’m not just saying that, she’s tearing it up out there.”

Guitarist Eric Gales, who played in Wilkes-Barre in March as part of the “Experience Hendrix” tour, will wrap up Friday night.

“He’s one of the best guitar players out there in the world,” Briggs said, who caught that show at the F.M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts. “I thought he was a standout.”

Overall, Briggs designs the lineup not around the performer’s star power, but around how he feels the audience will best appreciate the artists. He tries to build the intensity as the day goes on.

“As we go from 4 p.m. to midnight, there’s definitely a change in mood. Midway through the show, people are definitely up and dancing,” he said.

Briggs is the ninth generation to work the farm which dates back to the 1700s — since he retired, his son runs it.

Everyone puts a lot of work into planning and setting up for the festival each year, Briggs said.

“We work all year long,” Briggs said.

When the festival ends, they post photos on social media and keep the memories and conversations going. Then, they start booking bands and in early October, tickets for the next summer are already selling. Many people buy them as Christmas presents, Briggs said.

“Then we finishing up the booking by the first week in February,” he said.

The farm is large enough that they have room to grow as the festival gets bigger and bigger, for parking or camping grounds. Some regular attendees will park next to friends or stay up all night and play music, while other enjoy the quiet area at night.

“We have some nice woods and some nice open hay fields. People just love it. It’s a very nice situation for camping,” Briggs said. “You can really hear the whole concert from the campsite.”

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